The Tornado of 1925
Hamilton County, IL
| * These newspaper articles was generously contributed by Sheila Cadwalader who obtained the article from a collection of Newspaper clippings at the Brehm Library in Mt. Vernon, IL. The Some of the newspapers were not identified. A special thank you goes to Carla Pulliam who aided Sheila in compiling this information. The obituaries are extracts from Harold Felty's Legacy of Kin. Thanks, Sheila! |
FIERCE
CYCLONE SWEEPS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
LEAVING PATH OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION Terrible
Tornado Wipes Out Many Lives In Hamilton County March
30, 1925 The most terrible tornado in the
history of the country swept out of the heavens about 3 o’clock
Wednesday afternoon, leaving in its wake a path of death and
destruction. The
catastrophe spread over southern Illinois, wiping out nearly 1500 people
at the following places: West
Frankfort, Gorham, Elizabeth, Annapolis, MO, Altonburg, MO, Griffin, Ind,
and Princeton, Ind. Over
5000 people are believed to have been killed and approximately two
hundred injured in Hamilton County.
The terrible wind swept a mile strip through Hamilton County,
entering near Macedonia and making its exit at St Patrick’s church at
the White County line, creating one of the most devastating scenes ever
witnessed. Not a house or
outbuilding in the stricken vicinity is standing, woods are torn up,
roads blocked, hundreds of heads of live stock are killed and injured. Arrangements have been made with the L
& N Railroad to secure special trains to carry the injured to the
various surrounding hospitals in Mt Vernon, Harrisburg, St Louis and
Evansville, this morning (Thursday).
As many as possible will be cared for at the hastily installed
Red Cross hospital in the Mary E C McCoy Library building.
The reported dead at this time are as follows: Emery
Loyd, Mrs. Lando Ballard, Mrs.
Bob Ballard, and two children, Mrs. Harriet Tyler and daughter, Monroe
Lampley, Mrs. John Ray, Lonnie Smith and three children; Mr. and Mrs. John Trobaugh, Wesley Cluck, 12-year old son of
Moses Mayberry, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner Hollister and daughter, Leslie
Price’s baby (Leslie
Prince), Bob Adams and wife, Lando Ballard, Elza Wilson and family,
William Hanagan, Rev Marion Pitman, Carl Hunt, John B Lockwood, Frank
Oglesby, Sam Flannigan, Arthur Flannigan. TORNADO’S TOLL SWELLED TO 33 First
Death Occurred At Red Cross Hospital Sunday Night The tornado’s death toll in Hamilton
County was swelled to thirty-three when one more of its victims, W C
Cheek died at the Red Cross emergency hospital of this city at 8:30
o’clock Sunday night. Cheek, who resided with his brother,
Chalon Cheek, in the Lick Creek community was seriously injured when the
home was swept away. It is
said that he became indifferent and gave up all hope for recovery when
he learned that his little niece, Mina Gertrude Tyler (also listed as
Taylor) who was the apple of his eye, had been killed. Although 91,500 units of tetanus
anti-toxin were administered to Cheek who had contracted tetanus as the
result of his injuries, it was of no avail, due to the fact that
pneumonia set in as a result of his exposure.
His jaws locked for 96 hours prior to his death. This was the first fatality to occur at
the emergency hospital. Funeral
services were held Monday afternoon. March
28, 1925 DEATH TOLL IN
HAMILTON COUNTY
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Obituaries Charles Cheek, son of John and Susan Cheek, was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, October 22, 1879, and died March 29, 1925. He was 45 years; 5 months and 7 days old at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Allie and Ezra Cheek, and one sister, Laura Thompson, and leaves to mourn his death one brother, Chalon Cheek, of McLeansboro; and two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Clark of McLeansboro, and Orilla Olivers of Catr__, Mo. 1925-37
Forester,
Thursday, April 2, 1925
Martha Almedia Hicks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C C Hicks, born April 17, 1902
aged 22 years and 11 months and 1 day; killed in cyclone March 18, 1925.
She was united in marriage to Ezra Forester, November 15, 1922, and to this
union was born one daughter, Thelma Fay, who preceded the mother in death. She leaves to mourn a loving companion, four brothers and three sisters,
namely: Allie and Hugh Hicks of McLeansboro; Chris of Redlands,
California; Ella Nipper and Maria Moore of McLeansboro; Amy hicks of
Evansville, Indiana; (names six), and a number of relatives and friends. She often said she was ready to meet her blessed Savior when he called her.
She had a kind and loving disposition and to know her was to love her.
Funeral services were held at the Albion Presbyterian church, conducted Rev
Quinten V Williamson, Pastor of the First Christian Church, assisted by
Elder John B Maulding. Internment took place in the Albion Cemetery.
(see Hollister obit)
1925-58
Hollister,
Rosetta Webb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E E Webb, was born May 31, 1875 killed
by the cyclone, March 18, 1875, aged 49 years, 9 months and 18 days. She was united in marriage to C C Hicks, February 4, 1892, and to this union
seven children were born, namely: Ella Nipper, Allie Hicks, Hugh Hicks
of McLeansboro; Lee and Chris Hicks of Redlands, California; Amy
Hicks of Evansville, Indiana; and Media Forester, who preceded her in death
but a few minutes. Her husband also preceded her in death on March 6, 1911.She was again married to J H Moore, September 3, 1913, and to this union one
daughter, Madeline Marie, was born. October 20, 1922, she was married to W S
Hollister, who was killed in the cyclone a few minutes before her death. She
leaves to mourn seven children, three brothers, and four sisters and many
other relatives and friends. She was a kind and loving companion, mother and
neighbor. Some time ago she professed faith in Christ and to read the Holy
Bible was her greatest pleasure. Only a few days ago she told her
children that she prayed that they would prepare for Heaven for life was short
and death was sure.
Hollister, W Sumner
(according to wife’s obituary and newspaper listing of the dead) 1925-72
Lockwood,
John B Lockwood was born 19 April 1853 and died 19 March 1925, a cyclone
victim. He was the son of John Barthlomew and Sarah Flint Lockwood.
He married Eliza Titsworth on 23 Feb 1873. Five children:
Christopher Lockwood, West Frankfort; Annie Hungate is deceased;
Clyde Lockwood is deceased; Doug Lockwood, Carbondale; Joe
Lockwood, Zeigler. Leaves wife, 3 children, two brothers: Joe of
McLeansboro and Dougles of Galatia; 1 sister, Mrs Alice Ingram, Centralia;
2 half-sisters: Mrs Nancy Hungate , Marion, Indiana; and Mrs Zonis
Rogers, Braden.
1925-93
Oglesby,
Rella was born 1 October 1888 and died 3 October 1925, daughter of George and
Missouri Harrison Denny. Married Walter Oglesby 18 Mar 1906. Four children:
Willie, Leland, Gladys and Clarence. Leaves 7 siblings: Lydia Hunt, Farmington,
MO; Cora Pressley, McLeansboro; Bessie Allen, Carterville; Gracie Miller, East
St Louis; Marie Lesalie, Dixon; Augustus & Earl Denny, both of Sullivan, Indiana. Interred at Mt
Olive Cemetery.
1925-94
Oglesby,
F M Oglesby was born January 1851; was killed by the cyclone Mar 18, 1925,
aged 74 years, 2 months. He was married to Josephine Johnson Johnson in 1874, and to this union six
children were born , four boys and two girls, namely: Emory of Herrin, Illinois;
Leiza of Lake Fork; Walter of McLeansboro; Raymond, Chloe and Lillie preceded his in death.
He and his wife lived happily together until her death. He was again united in marriage to Nola Oneal, and to this union one child was
born, Ralph of McLeansboro. He was a member of the A F & A M Lodge at Walpole.
He leaves a brother, John Oglesby, besides the above named children, and many
other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted by Rev N C Henderson of Carrier Mills, after
which the Masonic Lodge took over the ceremonies.
1925-98
Pittman,
Frances Marion Pittman was born 3 December 1856, seven miles south of
McLeansboro, and died 18 Mar 1925, at his home in Knight’s Prairie, a tornado victim.
He was the son of John M and Edith Dale Pittman. He married Emmer Irene Younger in September
1874, she died in 1880; three children: Mrs Fayette Cantrell, Broughton;
Louis I died in infancy; and Chester of Vincennes, Indiana. Mr. Pittman married Margaret Bryant of
Saxton, Kentucky, she died in 1883. He then married Eliza J Claxton of Oneida,
Tennessee on 4 July 1885, she died in 1908. Eight children: Harr L and Iva R, both deceased;
Six children survive: Chalon E of Quincy; Mrs Dougls Younger, Piggott, Arkansas; Mrs R
Wright, Herrin; Mrs Edith Pittman, Galatia; Mrs Earl Russell, Broughton; and Paul
Pittman, McLeansboro. Leaves 9 grandchildren, two brother and 3 sisters. Interred Knights
Prairie.
1924-112
Smith,
Webb, America
Mrs. America Webb, daughter of David and Becky Ballard, was born in Hamilton
County, Illinois, August 29, 1875; died from injuries received during the
tornado at age 49 years and 7 months. She was married to Charley Webb, August 25, 1829 (?), and to this union twelve
children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Six boys and five girls survive,
namely: David, Elvis, George Roe, Lando and Oakley, Mrs. T R Emmerson, Mrs. Elsie Nipper, Mrs. Ed
Wheeler, Mrs. Spruce Walters, and Bertha Webb. She professed faith in Christ at an early age and united with the General
Baptist Church at Lick Creek and lived a faithful Christian until death.
She was a loving mother and a good neighbor. To know her was to love
her. Her friends are legion. She leaves to mourn their loss the above named children and fourteen
grandchildren. Our lost is her eternal gain, her husband having preceded her in death
about four years ago. We will say farewell for just a short time, but we do not mourn as those who
have no hope. Funeral Services were held at Sneed church, March 25, conducted by Rev. Bob
Pierce of Norris City.
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The following photos are of the devastation
caused by the tornado near Olga in Hamilton County. They were
contributed by Wanda Cross.
Thanks, Wanda!
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